Method of labeling and banding



l, 1931. o. MULLER 1,821,564

METHOD OF LABELING AND BANDING Original Filed Nov. 12, 1927 INVENTOR giro MULLER ATTOR Patented Sept. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT oFF ci:

OTTO MULLER, OF RICHMOND HILL, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO KNEHER, MULLER GOM- PANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK METHOD OF LABELING AND BANDING Original application filed November 12, 1927, Serial No. 232,752. Divided and 1929. Serial No. 366,739.

1928, it has been proposed to use for the final banding operation a heated roller or the like which has the two functions of bending one end of the cigar band upon the other and applying heat and pressure to soften the ad hesive between the ends, thereby causing them to adhere. The adhesive material therein referred to is the ordinary gum-like adhesive with which cigar bands or labels for other articles are usually provided when supplied to the market. In my co-pending apphcation Serial No. 232,752, filedNoyen ber 12, 1927,01 which the present appllcation 1s a division, a novel type of band or label is disclosed in which the gum adhesive is omitted and a protective coating, such as varnish or lacquer in its dry condition, is caused to give firm adhesion between the band or label ends when heat is applied thereto.

In accordance with the present invention a novel method of applying bands or labels to articles including cigars is provided. A dry adhesive is applied to one end of the label, which may be in the form of a transparent protective coating applied to the entire exposed surface of the band or label. A heated roller holds the overlapping ends of the band or label in fixed relation and heat and pressure holds the label or band ends 1n this position while encircling the article, which may be a cigar. In this way the e);- pense. of applying gum to the band ends is eliminated and no appreciable expense is involved because many bands being manufactured have a coating or varnish over the color used for ornamental designs.

In the drawings Fig. l is a detailed view showing the essential elements of a banding machine in the positions occupied just prior to the final operation of banding in accordance with the present method; Fig. 2 is a plan view of a cigar band or label of suitable type for carrying out the invention; Fig. 3 shows the band applied to a cigar.

The band 10 has its outer surface decorated with an ornamental design usually in this application filed Kay 28,

colors, and the trade mark or words indicating the name or origin of the cigar or other article. The band preferably has one surface covered with a protective coating such as varnish, shellac or lacquer although such coating may be applied to one end only of the label. No other adhesive is applied to the band. In disclosing the present method of banding or labeling reference is made to Fig. 1 showing a. portion only of the machine elements actually used in wrapping and securing the band. It will be understood, however, eluding hand wrapping of the bands and labels about the article may be used.

In the portion of the machine shown a block of sponge rubber 14 is pressed down on the band or label 10 which has been laid transversely on the cigar or other similar article 16. This operation causes the ends of the band "or label to extend downwardly in parallel relation at the sides of the cigar or other article. A roller 18 passes underneath the cigar, bending the end 11 in the position shown in Fig. 1. Upon the withdrawal of roller 18 the roller 20 closely follows it, bendlapping relation with the end 11. The roller 20 is heated by suitable means such as an electric heating element 22 included therein which receives a supply of heating current through conductors 24. The action of this heated roller is to press the ends of the band together at the same time heating the coating enough to soften itand cause adhesion between the ends of the band. While the present method is shown particularly in connection with the banding of cigarsit will be understood that it is equally applicable to the labeling of cans, bottles or similar articles. It is only necessary that the band or label have a dry adhesive which may be a part of the protective covering of the ornamentation of the labeling.

Instead of ordinary varnish, other similar coating such as shellac or lacquer, may be used, and throughout this disclosure the term varnish is intended to include shellac, lacquer.

and other varnish-like material, that is, ma-

terials which serve a purpose in connection that other equipment in mg the other end 26 of the band into overloo with the decorative features of the band and which may be softnedby moderate' application of heat so as to adhere to the surface of the band. 1

In case this method is utilized to apply labels to cans or bottles, unless it is desired V to perform the method manually, it will be necessary to use a different type of labeling. machine or else enlarge the machine shown in 10 Fig. 1.

What I claim is: 1. The method of labeling articles which comprises wrapping a label having a dryvarnish-like adhesive on one of its ends, with its ends in overlapping relation around the article to be wrapped, fusing said dry adhesive by heat and pressing the ends of the label with the ends and the fused adhesive I therebetween firmly into engagement.

2. The method of banding cigars which comprises varnishing a cigar band at one end. allowing the varnish to dry, wrappingthe band about a cigarwith the inner surface of one end in contact with the varnished surface and applying heat and pressure to the overlapping ends to cause adhesion.

3. The method of banding cigars with bands having ornamentation thereon covered with a protective coating, which consists in overlapping the ends of the bands and fus ing the coating at the overlapped ends.

4. The method of labeling an article which comprises applying a label with a dry varnish-like adhesive on one of its ends to the 5 article, bending the ends of the label in parallel relation, further bending the ends of the label until they are in overlapping relation, applying heat to the overlapped ends to fuse the dry adhesive, and applying pressure to bring the ends of the label firmly into engagement with the fused adhesive therebetween.

In witness whereof, I hereunto su'bscribe my name this 19th day of April, A. D.

OTTO MUILER. 

